Cruelty To Animals
SDCL § 40-1-2.4 — cruelty is a Class 6 felony, and neglect or abandonment a Class 1 misdemeanor
No person may subject an animal to cruelty. A violation is a Class 6 felony.
No one who owns or cares for an animal may neglect, abandon or mistreat it, a Class 1 misdemeanor. Releasing a feral cat taken in only to be spayed or neutered is not abandonment.
A particular case is a question for a licensed South Dakota attorney.
Sources for this section (2)
- SDCL § 40-1-2.3 — Neglect, abandonment, or mistreatment of animal; Exception; Penalty
- SDCL § 40-1-2.4 — Cruelty to animals; Felony
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed South Dakota attorney.